Teaninich 8 Years Old 2008 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A Teaninich single malt, selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, an 8 year old from 2008 and bottled at 46%. Teaninich was opened in 1817 on the Teaninich estate in Easter Ross, north of Inverness; it is a key malt of Johnnie Walker. Its make is a key part of Johnnie Walker, Haig and VAT 69.

The spirit was made from a mash filter wort for a clean, grassy spirit, for a clean, oily make of real freshness. A sherry cask wrapped the light spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At this age the spirit is fresh and green, cut grass and citrus to the fore. Years in oak round the spirit, the grass and wax deepening with age. The Cromarty Firth nearby is one of few UK waters home to bottlenose dolphins. A long fermentation of around 75 hours builds the fresh, fruity notes. Filled spirit is tankered away to mature in Diageo's central warehouses.

At 46% it is clean and fresh. Sherried dried fruit and a nutty edge come through, and vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under a clean, green fruitiness. Soft orchard fruit and grass sit behind the sweetness. The close is fresh, grass over gentle oak. This is a fresh, oily Highland single malt.